HI TEC BADWATER WHITNEY RACE VIII 1995Starts at Badwater,Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, to Mt. Whitney Portals, 8,300 feet,135 miles; climb to top of Mt. Whitney optional (not part of race), 14,496feet, 146 miles.“HEAT AND HUMIDITY HUMBLES HI TEC HARRIERSWITH HYPERTHERMIA,HYPEREMESIS AND HEMATURIA”     This was theeighth year Hi Tec Sports USA, Inc., has put on the race from Badwater,Death Valley, to Whitney Portals. It is regarded as an extreme event. Itseems to be even more popular now along with the Eco Challenge, ExtremeGames and the Raid Galouises. So far, no one has been in Badwater and theRaid. This year there were four competitors from the Eco Challenge and theExtreme Games, including Marshall Ulrich, Cory Shane, Lisa Smith and WhitRambach.     The main extremeis always the heat of 120 130 degrees at the start with 100 degree coolertemperatures 146 miles away at the top of Mt. Whitney. The risk of heatexhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration is great all 135 miles to WhitneyPortals. Those who go to the top risk electrocution from lightning strikesduring summer storms, as well as hypothermia from worsening weather. Enroute, there can be sidewinders, scorpions, tarantulas, rabid bats, mountainlions and bears for additional thrills. There have been no problems withthese during the race in previous years, but it is good to be fore warned.Sleep deprivation and accompanying hallucinations are other interestingfactors. Physical training and adaptation to these elements is about a thirdof the battle. The next third is physiologic. Three of the surfaces of thebody have to make it: skin, gastric lining and urinary tract lining. Theskin must be protected from direct and reflected sunlight and feet have tobe protected from getting blisters. The gastric lining must be presentedwith the perfect balance of fluids, calories and electrolytes. Otherwise,dehydration from hyperemesis (vomiting) may occur. The urinary tract liningis influenced, also, by the same balance of fluids and nutrients, and, ifnot, either hematuria (blood in the urine) or worse, no urine formation atall, can occur. The last third is mental attitude and adjustment. It helpsgreatly to have trained on the course for what I call"imprinting."Practicing on various segments of the course and watching the environmentslowly go by really help in doing the event. Knowing what kind of emergencycan exist ahead of time makes for a safer passage. I have an advantage ofhaving treated about every kind of emergency between the low and high spots.A prerequisite to actually doing the race might be to crew it one year. Bythe way, it almost wore me out more to crew it than do it this year.     Bill Menardreturned this year after winning the men's running race last year. He set apriority in 1995 to do the "Grand Slam," which is completing fourof five ofthe following 100's: Western States, Old Dominion (Virginia), Vermont,Leadville and Wasatch. He might even add Angeles Crest for the "WesternSlam." He almost buckled at Western States, had it not been for gettingheldup at a medical aid station. He and another front runner took a wrong turn

at Old Dominion and went 15 miles out of the way and got disqualified forriding in a truck back to the missed turn. That meant he had to do Vermont,which was the weekend prior to Badwater. He finished that one in around 20hours. I called him two days before the Badwater Race and told him that JoeSchlereth was injured at Western States and would not be coming and thatMarshall Ulrich was attempting to do the Badwater Race self contained with a200# bike cart! He told me that he would check the airlines and, if it didnot cost lot, he would come. He called back and said it cost a fortune andhe was on his way anyway. His crew member, Dave Burke, also had about twohours to get ready. They arrived in Las Vegas about 18 hours before racetime. They still had to face jet lag, get some sleep, rent a car andpurchase provisions. Nevertheless, he got to the race in time and startedwith the idea he would not win. He was never further back than fifth andgradually nibbled away at the runners in front. He does not waste any timetaking aid. He does not like gum drops, pretzels or jerky. Instead, heslurps down small jars full or cans full of mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.,"anything I would ordinarily eat." He sent Dave ahead to PanamintSpringsresort at 72 miles for a breakfast order of six eggs and half pound ofhamburger cooked about medium. It was ready for him when he arrived. Hegulped it down in five minutes and was off to win another buckle and$500.00. He goes to a lot of races and does altitude training in multi levelparking garages. Bill is more than happy to talk about his training methodsand run strategy. His approach has to be appreciated and admired.     David Jones'arrival was preceded by phone calls from the media at Murfreesboro,Tennessee. He flashed through the course smiling all the way. He did admitto feeling the "blast furnace" effect upon arrival at,appropriately enough,Furnace Creek Ranch. After Bill Menard passed him, the two crews exchangedmessages about encouraging each other to do some walking. His crew admittedto being more used to attending tennis matches, so this was a real change.     Judy Overholzercrewed Keith Pippin in 1993 and was injured before the 1994 Race, so sheentered the walk division instead and won it. This year she entered therun division and took only two hours to rest for another win. Living inArizona and running there is ideal for heat training. She is a real championand was admired by everyone for her performance, politeness and wonderfulattitude. She tried to do the mountain, but was turned back by cold, highwinds. This kept some others from ascending.       I might mentionthat the team approach to this race does not usually work out too well.Denise and I tried walk it last year after I had done the race successfullythe three previous years as a runner. Last year, I had to drop out at 41miles, because I was not processing fluids well enough and I was holding herup. I let her go. I skipped ahead later and wound up doing about 75% of thecourse to the top with her. Jack and Margaret Spear did an A.M. startseveral years ago and were the first husband and wife team to finish and didit in about 97 hours. (Marshall and Willette Ulrich became the secondhusband and wife couple to do the course simultaneously this year). CoryShane and Lisa Smith were crewed by Susan Babson, Julie Tieger, SharonMoratta, Tim Key and Joe Shane (Cory's uncle). Everything went all rightuntil just two miles beyond Panamint Springs Resort (72 miles), when Corystarted to experience peeing cranberry colored urine. He was later able toget back on the course, but the team crewing became impossible withoutrevision. Lisa was fourth overall and the second female finisher. Cory wasninth overall.     Michael Gleman

came here with the full intention of winning and setting a course record. Hearrived with his fiancée, Mary Kay Thomas, and a pacer and was joined by mystep daughter, Angie Habegger, who agreed to crew at the last minute. He rana consistently strong race, but had to settle for fifth place.     Harry Deupreereturned for the fourth time for his personal best on the course. He was insecond place at the half way point. Effortlessly, he cruised along as if hewere on his way to one of his banker's meetings. His son, Chisolm, helpedagain. Jack Christian was also a crew member. It was nice having him aroundagain as he put in some good race times in 1990 and 1991.      Tim Neckar was oneof five to try to settle an account here this year after having to quit in1993 at about 85 miles. After being in the lead for about the first marathondistance, he started to have stomach problems. He continued to StovepipeWells Village at 41 miles and crashed. Stomach problems were very prevalentthis year. It might have had something to do with the heat plus the humidity(heat index). The humidity in Death Valley is usually zero. Any humidityadds to the temperature making it feel hotter than it really is; sort of thereverse of the chill factor. By not taking on enough fluids and electrolytesat first, the stomach just does not seem to function. Lots of salt is lostthrough perspiration. An adequate salt level in the tissues is needed inorder for osmosis to take place across the gastric lining into the bloodstream and then into the tissues. Fluids seem to slosh in the stomach.Peristalsis does not seem to take place to allow the gastric contents toflow into the small intestine. Hyperemesis (vomiting) is likely to occurmaking the problem even worse. He had several hours of down time forrehabilitation. His crew and family stayed with him the remaining 95 milesto the Portals.     Jim Dill was thequietest person for being an ex marine and just minded his business theentire way. He had 25 sponsors and raised over $3,000 for Marine CorpsLeague's Toys for Tots program and youth scholarship as he marched along thecourse.     The above runnersfinished within Hi Tec's 45 hour time limit to get belt buckles. All otherrunners finishing within 60 hours get recognition for finishing. Walkers geta buckle and recognition for finishing in 60 hours. Richard Benyo keeps aMaster List of all those who do an A.M. or P.M. start from Badwater toWhitney; however the time to the Portals is not considered.     Marty Coffey wasanother who had come back after not being able to get much further than 41miles last year because of stomach problems. He started to have the sameproblems this year, but not as bad. He was an attendee of the Jones clinicand from then on he was able to trot and run most of the rest of the way tothe Portals. I call him "the Zebra" for his work off season"imprinting" onthat white line on black asphalt.     Scott Weberreturned this year after having gained the reputation of "GravelMan" on thecourse last year. He won the men's walk division in 1994 and returned laterto go to the top and then start a triple crossing between Mt. Whitney andDeath Valley. Four crossings were made by him during the July August"window." I called him "Gravel Man" because of the threewheel tracks madewith the baby jogger on the side of the road carrying supplies from oasis tooasis. Also, because of the numerous times I found him lying in a trash bag